Goddens Butchers
Solar power for a busy butcher’s business in Chesham For Goddens Butchers, refrigeration and cold storage are a substantial part of the electricity bill. Running a busy butcher’s business across two units in Chesham, Reuben and Sam Godden wanted to reduce the amount of electricity they needed to buy from the grid.
Jun 22, 2021
84
12
kW
We installed a solar PV system on each of their two units at Crown Business Estate, with both systems commissioned on 22 June 2021. With refrigeration and other equipment running throughout the day, the business could use solar electricity as it was being generated.
Two units, two solar arrays
Each system comprises 42 Canadian Solar 345W panels connected to a Solis 12kW inverter. Together, the 84 panels provide a combined rated capacity of 28.98 kWp, split equally between the two units.
The original design arranged the panels across the front and rear roof elevations, with a Sunfixings direct-fix mounting system specified for the trapezoidal roof sheeting. Each unit has its own inverter, which converts the electricity from the panels into a form the building can use.
Putting the electricity to work
Goddens reports that the two systems have generated a combined 137,138 kWh since installation. This is a cumulative figure across both systems, rather than an annual generation figure.
According to the business, the vast majority of that electricity has been used directly within the two units. That has reduced the amount bought from the grid, with the daytime demand from refrigeration and other equipment making good use of the solar output.
The customer reports a noticeable reduction in electricity costs, although a financial saving and precise percentage of solar electricity used on site have not been provided.
An unexpected benefit in warmer weather
Alongside the electricity generation, Goddens describes an unexpected improvement in comfort during hot weather. The business reports less heat coming through the roofs and a noticeably cooler top-floor office, with less need to run the air conditioning.
The customer also reports that the refrigeration motors stay cooler and do not have to work as hard. These are the business’s observations from using the buildings, rather than findings from a separate temperature or equipment-performance assessment.
The customer’s view
After several years of operation, Goddens describes the systems as making a noticeable difference to both electricity costs and the running of the business. The supplied testimonial says:
“We are very pleased with both the installation and the performance of the systems and would happily recommend Chiltern Solar to other businesses looking to reduce their energy costs and make better use of their available roof space.”
Goddens Butchers
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System overview
View the hardware that we installed for this customer.
84
solar panels
Full list of hardware installed
· 84 × Canadian Solar 345W solar panels
· 2 × Solis 12kW three-phase inverters
· Sunfixings MRD Mini roof-mounting system
· 2 × Emlite solar generation meters
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